Gekk allvaldr
und ýg*shjálmi
meginmildr
merkjum fyrri,
en gullsett
gnæfa knáttu
vísa vé
of valafólki.
Meginmildr allvaldr gekk und ýg*shjálmi fyrri merkjum, en gullsett vé vísa knáttu gnæfa of valafólki.
The tremendously generous mighty ruler advanced under the helmet of terror ahead of the standards, and the gold-embroidered banners of the leader towered above the select troop.
[2] ýg*s‑: ‘ygis’ E, 8, ‘ygís’ F, ‘yggis’ 42ˣ, ‘ægís’ 81a, ‘yngís’ Flat
[2] ýg*shjálmi ‘the helmet of terror’: The ms. readings, which can be normalised as ýgishjálmi (so E, F, 42ˣ, 8) or ægishjálmi (so 81a), render the l. hypermetrical. The helmet of terror (œgishjálmr) belonged to the dragon Fáfnir, and it was among the booty taken by Sigurðr after he had slain the dragon (see Fáfn 16-19 and end prose; NK 183, 188). See also Sturl Hryn 8/8.